Experiments on the Absorption of High Intensity Laser Light and Subsequent Compression of Spherical Targets

Abstract

Laser fusion experiments have been performed with the goal of understanding the physics of the laser target interaction so that the neutron scaling laws with laser power, laser wavelength and target material can be verified1. An important consideration of this interaction is the transfer of laser energy into the thermonuclear fuel. The experimental features which provide information on the amount of energy Absorbed by the fuel are target compression and particle generation. The complementary measurements of laser light absorption by the target are used to obtain information on the efficiency of the hydrodynamic coupling of this energy to the fuel.